EU: Future Relationship White Paper

Andrew Bridgen Excerpts

Thursday 12th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

Yes, we can cater for the needs of businesses and the UK economy without having an open-door approach to immigration.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

I welcome my right hon. Friend to his position. While I and many colleagues may have grave concerns about the contents of the White Paper, I hope that we all agree on the importance of his role in delivering the Brexit that we promised the British people. To that end, it is very important that he has the right support and help going forward, so has he had any explanation why his first choice of special adviser—namely, Stewart Jackson, the former Member for Peterborough—was vetoed by the Cabinet Office?

[Dominic Raab]

I pay tribute to the great work that all the special advisers have done, including Stewart Jackson, and all the officials, who work tirelessly with Ministers to get the best deal for this country. I will be naming my special advisers shortly, as people would expect in the normal course of a reshuffle or a change in ministerial post.